BE MY LOVE is the first book in the fun and romantic “Walker Island” contemporary romance series! Lucy Kevin is the “sweet” pen-name of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Bella Andre (who writes the #1 bestselling series about The Sullivans). Lucy Kevin books are fun, flirty and romantic―without the steamy scenes.

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Come for a visit to Walker Island where you’ll find stunning Pacific Northwest ocean views, men too intriguing to resist…and five close-knit sisters who are each about to find their one true love.

One day, Bella Andre followed me on Twitter.

I’d heard of her as a mega-successful indie author of romance, but had never looked at her work. However when she’d followed me what did I do? Followed her back, and bought her permafree 1st book in the Walker series all within 60 seconds. Bam. That is genius book marketing.

To find readers with this method it helps, of course, if people have heard of your name or you may come across as “stalkerish”, but a New York Times bestselling author following me for no reason? Of course I was going to check out her books. And offering her first books in her series for free? Why not click ‘Buy’ – it costs nothing and you might like it.

A few months later, I read Be My Love. I don’t normally read a lot of chick lit. I like it occasionally, much like a whole bar of #Toblerone, it’s sweet but not my daily fodder. This story swept me along because a) it’s set on an island and I grew up on remote islands, b) there are a ton of sisters in it and I love big families (I’m from a family of seven with four girls), and c) yes, these plots are predictable but I like the twists and mysteries unearthed in the plot… so am I a fan? Sure thing. She is a compelling storyteller and a dynamo author!

The Walker series is contemporary romance, and I’m guessing it’s quite different to Bella Andre’s Sullivan series (which has steamy romance scenes) let alone her dozens of other romances. And I confess that when I was 11, Lace was one of the first books I snuck into my room to read without my parents knowing. EYE-OPENING. Romance has always “whispered truths” to its readers in a way other genres can’t quite match. It’s deeply intimate and enlightening and… yeah, I’ll say it, empowering.

I’m doing #NaNoWriMo again this year, and I went into my Inbox to clean up the 198 Messages in there since becoming a member 8 years ago, I kept all of the Pep Talks because I’d like to read them now. I found one written in 2013 by Bella Andre, so here it is:

What I appreciate about her Pep Talk is her message: your next book is always the most important thing on the to-do list. Not marketing. Not blogging. Not the laundry. (Phew, permission for my 2-feet high leaning tower of kids’ underpants!)

After 16 years in Paris, and living in 6 other countries prior, Lizzie Harwood has now moved to Sweden with her French husband, two girls, and angora stray, Goldie. When she isn’t escorting her wayward children to further their education (and asking them to please stop meowing on the subway due to their claim to be ‘part cat’)… she writes memoir, women’s fiction, psychological suspense, and short stories. She is also an editor/writing coach to some incredible peeps around the world. Visit editordeluxe.com and lizzieharwoodbooks.com for more.